New elements of burial practice in the Kura-Araxes culture: The discovery of Karnut cemetery (Armenia)

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the results obtained from recent (2016–2017) archaeological investigations the Early Bronze age site of Karnut, located in the Shirak province, of northwestern Armenia. The main focus will be on the newly discovered Kura-Araxes burials and dwellings. A preliminary attempt will be made to address issues regarding the dating of the newly discovered materials, as well as to provide a first comparison with the results yielded by former excavations. New elements concerning burial practices at the site will then be discussed in the context of established frameworks of burial rituals as known from formerly investigated burial sites of the Kura-Araxes culture. Ultimately, the issues discussed in this paper highlight important future directions in the research on funerary practices in the Early Bronze Age South Caucasus.